Former Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has said that Senator Ned Nwoko’s planned movement to the All Progressives Congress, APC, may be a ploy to destabilise the party in Delta state.

According to Nwaoboshi, Nwoko, who recently announced his intention to defect to the APC, is allegedly working with elements in the Presidency to dissolve the Delta State APC Executive Committee before the expiration of its tenure.

In a statement released on January 20, 2025, Nwaoboshi described the move as a “grave threat” to the unity and stability of the APC in Delta State. “It is unacceptable and disrespectful to the democratic principles that the APC stands for,” he said. Nwaoboshi added that the alleged plan undermines the rights of duly elected officials and violates the party’s constitution.

The Delta State APC Executive was elected to serve a specific tenure, and Nwaoboshi warned that dissolving the structure prematurely would lead to chaos. “Such a move has the potential to jeopardize the party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 general elections,” he cautioned. He called on all party stakeholders to resist any such attempts, stating that the party must prioritize its stability to achieve electoral success.

Nwaoboshi, who represented Delta North Senatorial District from 2015 to 2023, criticized Nwoko for attempting to dictate terms within the APC despite not being a member. “If Nwoko genuinely wants to join the APC, he must follow the same process as every other member—build relationships, respect the leadership structure, and adhere to the party’s democratic processes,” he asserted.

He also accused Nwoko of being motivated by self-interest rather than a genuine commitment to the people of Delta State or the APC’s principles. Nwaoboshi described Nwoko’s history of party-hopping as evidence of his opportunism. “His interest in the APC appears driven by personal gain rather than the party’s ideals,” he stated, warning against allowing such tendencies to disrupt the party’s internal harmony.

Nwaoboshi further urged the national leadership of the APC and the Presidency to ignore any calls from Nwoko to dissolve the Delta State APC Executive. He described such a proposal as unconstitutional and an affront to the party’s democratic ethos. “The leadership must remain steadfast and uphold the party’s constitution rather than succumbing to the whims of individuals seeking to destabilize our party,” he emphasized.

The former senator also cautioned Nwoko against meddling in the internal affairs of the Delta State APC, warning that such interference would meet stiff resistance. “We will not be intimidated by his antics. The APC is a democratic institution, and we will defend its integrity against any attempt to destabilize it,” he declared.

Nwaoboshi reaffirmed his commitment to preserving the unity and principles of the APC in Delta State. He called on party members and stakeholders to stand firm and resist any actions that threaten the stability and integrity of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.

Witnesses of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, gave testimonies on how irregularities allegedly marred the Sept. 21, 2024, Edo governorship election in three Local Governments (LGs) of the state.

The PDP and its candidate in the election, Dr Asue Ighodalo, are challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Gov. Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.

Being led in evidence by Abiodun Owonikoko, PDP counsel in the petition, one of the witnesses, Kennedy Osifo, tendered agents’ copies of the election results for 76 polling units.

The polling units are in Ward II of Ikpoba Okha local government area, where he alleged four electoral irregularities.

According to him, the irregularities were observed when the agents’ copies were examined alongside the certified true copies of the results of BVAS accreditation report obtained from the INEC’s IREV portal.

He said that the discrepancies had been highlighted in his witness statement on oath, which he urged the tribunal to adopt in evidence in the case.

Osifo, who said that he was the PDP local government collation officer in the poll, alleged that the INEC relied on incorrect scores to announce the election’s final result.

When cross-examined, Osifo said that his testimonies were based strictly on the two documents and not on contacts with the agents.

On his part, Adebayo Ogedegbe alleged cases of irregularities in 45 units across Akoko-Edo LG of the state.

Ogedegbe, the party collation officer for the local government, testified that INEC computed incorrect scores that negated the records in the certified true copies in 41 of these units.

The witness alleged overvoting in the four other units, seeking to tender the agents’ copies of the results of these units in evidence to corroborate his claims.

For Owan West LG, Lucky Aroye tendered agents’ copies of results in nine units where he also alleged overvoting.

Aroye said that there were no prior recordings of sensitive materials in seven units of the LG, urging INEC to adopt his statement on oath as evidence in the case.

When asked if the witness was able to visit all the units in the local government as the collation officer, he said there was no way he could have done that, considering the number.

Meanwhile, messers Kalu Agabi, Onyechi Ikpeazu, and Ukala, all Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), counsels to INEC, Okpebholo, and the APC, objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents.

The lawyers, however, reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi, the chairman of the tribunal, in his ruling, said that the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.

Kpochi adjourned the sitting until Wednesday for continuation of hearing.

(NAN)

In continuation of presentation of its case, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alongside its candidate for the September 21, 2024 Governorship Election in Edo State, Dr Asue Ighodalo, on Wednesday fielded three more witnesses from three local government areas in the state.

Recall that the PDP and its candidate in the election are challenging Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Governor Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress as the winner.

The petitioners at Tuesday sitting commenced its presentation of witness as three witnesses drawn from Ikpoba-Okha, Akoko-Edo, and Owan West Local Government Areas testified in support of the petitioners’ claims.

Justice Wilfred Kpochi led three-man Tribunal later adjourned sitting to Wednesday for continuation of hearing of the petition.

At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, the witnesses of the PDP and its candidate gave testimonies before the court, claim wide spread irregularities marred the conduct of the poll in their local government areas.

Destiny Oghayerio Enabulele, led in evidence by counsel to the petitioners, Abiodun Owonikoko, said that in arriving at the averment on his witness statement on oath, he personally examined documents used in the election which include but not limited to certified true copies of INEC’s summary of the Wards collation results.

“These are documents I personally examined carefully to arrive at my witness statement on oath. There was not prior recording of sensitive materials deployed by INEC to 19 polling Units in Ovia South West Local Government Area,” he said.

When asked by counsel to the respondents whether he participated in the makings of the documents he used to arrived at his statement on oath, Enabulele said that he only participated in the making of Form EC8C (Ward Collation result).

However, there was a mid-drama when the petitioners’ witness from Etsako West Local Government Area, Babah Idenobhe, told the court in his testimonies that there was over voting in three polling Units (units 021-023) amin his local government area.

It was however, discovered that some of the documents the witness claimed to have relied on in arriving at his statement on oath were certified by INEC on January 8, 2025, while his statement on oath was deposed to October 10, 2024.

“One of the materials I took into consideration in my deposition is the original certified true copies of polling units results, photographed with with the BIVAS machines”, he posited.

Also, Moses Agbukor, from Etsako East Local Government Area, who functioned in the exercise as Collation Agent for his party PDP in the LGA, in his testimonies also claimed over voting and non prior recording of sensitive materials.

The witness had earlier prayed the court to admit his Party’s Ward Collation Agent Tag, as well as his witness statement on oath as evidence for the petitioners.

Meanwhile, Kalu Agabi, SAN, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and Ukala, SAN, who are counsel to the INEC, Okpebholo and the APC respectively objected the admissibility of the tendered documents, but reserved their grounds to the final written addresses.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Kpochi, in his ruling, said the documents were provisionally admitted in evidence.

He then adjourned the sitting until Thursday, January 22, 2025 for continuation of hearing.